Females feed off blood, with the charity warning that bites could result in painful swellings and the possibility of infections which might not be treatable with existing antibiotics.

The charity said that while the majority of small but nonetheless painful insect bites and stings can be treated at home with over-the-counter medication, itchy horsefly bites take longer to heal and can become infected, especially if scratched.

And in light of the voom in the insects population, families have been advised to drain paddling pools to fend off bloodsucking horseflies by experts.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) advised the public to remove standing water, in which the insects thrive, from their gardens.

The effects of an infected horsefly bite can include a raised and nasty rash, dizziness, shortage of breath, and weak and swollen limbs.

Current treatments include antihistamine and steroid creams and in serious cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics.

But with bacteria in our bodies becoming more resistant to antibiotics, it can be difficult to find the right treatment to fight infections, and in some cases this has resulted in the threat of amputation or death.

Horse flies are on the loose

The charity's chief executive, Professor Colin Garner, said: "Here is a prime example of why we need to develop new medications fast to keep up with our changing climate and unexpected situations such as a horsefly bite epidemic.

"We have been warning for some time that our antibiotics are so ineffective that we could reach the situation where people will once again die from an infected scratch or bite.

"That tragic moment may just have come. I personally got bitten recently by a horsefly and it is very painful. I am self-medicating with creams and an oral antihistamine tablet to ensure the bite site does not become infected."

Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, told the BBC : “We wouldn’t normally see anyone coming to hospital for a bite, but we have seen a few recently needing treatment with antibiotics, which is very unusual.

“A couple of these were infected bites from horseflies. They actually give one of the nastier bites, because they take a chunk out of you.

“They can be very painful, and can take a while to heal, and as result can get infected and need antibiotics. In the worst-case scenario, they can cause cellulitis, an infection of the skin.”

What to do if you get bitten

Horseflies have become more common (Image: Getty Images)

NHS experts advise the majority of small insect bites and stings can be treated at home with over-the-counter medication.

But itchy horsefly bites take much longer to heal and can become infected, especially if scratched.

The effects of an infected horsefly bite can include a raised and nasty rash, dizziness, shortage of breath and weak and swollen limbs.

Popular treatments include antihistamine and steroid creams. While in serious cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics are recommended.

NHS guidance advises visiting your GP if an insect bite results in symptoms of an infection such as pus, increased pain, redness and swelling.

ANTRUK wants to see the Government, drugs companies, research charities and even members of the public who are still intent on demanding antibiotics from their doctor, to work together to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Prof Garner added: "It is entirely possible in 2018 that you can die of an insect bite, not just in some hot foreign clime, but here in Britain.

"We have not invested in the kinds of antibiotics we need to keep up with devious and ever-changing bacterial infections.

"Now we are in real danger that we could return to a pre-antibiotic past, where dirty wounds, bites and conditions like TB and typhoid might kill."

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